Just returned from the midnight viewing of The Hobbit. And no, I did not dress up. All I had was The One Ring I got from an old Lord of the Rings bookmark and put it on a chain. I believe that small token at least satisfied the god of Tolkien nerdyness.

I'm not going to say much about the movie other than my overall opinion, for I don't want to spoil anything for anyone. I had only a few severe dislikes about the movie, but for the most part I greatly enjoyed it. And I really very much want the soundtrack.

I once had the one ring. It came on a little stand like a mini Mt Doom, and when you set it in the stand the lava would glow. I wore that ring so often that the gold came off and it turned to copper, and the chain broke, so I used one I found on the street, and then it fell off in the river by my cabin and search as I might, I could not find it again. It and its chain also used to leave nasty green marks on my neck and finger. So, I'm pretty convinced mine was the actual One Ring. XD

I wore an official "Hobbit Movie" lanyard I also avoided the midnight showing because the ones down here tend to make actually *watching* the movie nearly impossible. Saw it yesterday, though! I really liked it ^__^ It would be difficult to take the original Hobbit, with its far lighter, bedtime-story tone, and have it fit with the trilogy. I like how they're bookending it, and starting where Bilbo is having his party and all. And the Silmarillion and Appendices stuff is so much fun to see! I want to sere it again so I can analyze it further.

I actually loved it. I thought that other than all the extra background stuff that they added it was awesome. Martin Freeman is an amazing Bilbo, I got to see at least ten seconds of my glorious Elvinking (and am looking forward to more... and Legolas, but that's just me), and besides what they added they pretty much kept to the storyline.

Though I think with all the extra 'backstory' stuff the movie became cluttered. It was almost difficult to keep track of everything that was going on. There were unnecessary characters, and I wish they'd kept the old Warg look... But really my only wish would be for them to eliminate that pale ork dude as soon as possible. His presence in the movie irritated me.

But seeing the dwarf city, I thought, was really freaking awesome. But what was with that jewel? I don't have any memory of that being in the book. That irked me a little bit too.

But every last bit of the rest of the movie filled me with utter joy and excitement. ESPECIALLY the Gollum scene.One thing I loved in particular was how they introduced Gollum. Because in the book the Hobbit he is more of a creature than a hobbit-related being. I love how they kept his persona from the LotR movies and yet kept to the Hobbit creature too.

Yes, there was a serious lack of pretty Mirkwood Elves in this movie, and I'm looking very much forward to watching them in the next movie.

The white orc was really the only thing that truly ruined the movie for me. He is super lame and not even all that necessary and needs to be gotten rid of pronto. The book survived without him, and the movie would've done so just as well.

The Arkenstone (that jewel) is in the book. That's what the armies are fighting over at the end of the book (until the orcs come, that is). At least, that is what I remember.

I think the Gollum scene was my favorite. Oh man, it was so creepy in a good way!

Also, I loved Elrond's jacket (among all of the other wonderful costumes). And he cracked me up. He was abnormally chummy and almost acted too "human" in his body language. But I definitely like Happy Elrond over the Grumpy Elrond from LotR.

When the Elves of Rivendell rescued the company from the wargs, I was overly excited and seriously hoping for a shot of our beloved Elf Princeling.... But alas I must wait a year longer. I can't wait to see that old chum What did you think of that Elvinking?! I love him. I don't care what anyone says about Lee Pace's eyebrows. I love Thranduil.

Anyway: TOTALLY agree with you about the white orc. He was stupid, and unneeded.

Ok, now I remember hearn' someth'n about the Arkenstone.

Agree: Gollum scene was incredibly done. Absolutely brilliant.

Agree: I thought Elrond's demeanor was quite human like in comparison to the other movies. It was amusing, and his Jacket appeared to match his mood lol It was almost cute, even.

I went midnight too and I loved it! The Hobbit is my all time favorite book. There was somethings I were a little, alright with, but they put in those things like the whole necromancer and pale orc thing, to put in as much stuff as possible to make three movies. I LOVED IT. It just made me a little sad that they are making 3 movies, when they could make 2 perfect movies. I feel like they were just being greedyOkay I'm done. Sorry that was so long, I just know you are a big LOTR fan.

Oh, I can beat you in long rants, no problem!I will try to contain myself.

Cons:My loudest complaint is the pale orc. He annoyed me and I thought he was a rather generic villain. He should've stayed dead and let the Misty Mountain orcs avenge him. Also, movies that long should have an intermission for those of us who can't sit on our butts that long, LOL! And if it's going to be that long, it needs to have more content. I was quite surprised how early on in the plot the movie ended, but at least it was a very good ending and I left the theater happy. There are a few more very minor cons, but I don't want to spoil too much for random onlookers.

Pros:I really enjoyed pretty much the rest of the movie. The Necromancer plot, the dwarf flashbacks, most of all the characters and all of the visual candy! OH AND THE RIDDLE SCENE! That was one of my favorite parts of the book, and the movie created that scene beautifully. Even though I knew that all would end well, I was still so scared for Bilbo, oh man, Gollum was so delightfully creepy!

Yeah that was my biggest complaint, the pale orc. Especially how Thorin did not have to go and get he crap beat out of him. And you right with the content. I skimmed my book and where they ended the movie was only 100 pages in.OMG RIDDLES IN THE DARK WAS PERFECT. Literally exactly how I pictured it! Gollum's eyes especially. I liked how they added the brown wizard and necromancer, it still kind of confused me... but I feel like it expanded the universe more. Have you played the hobbit videogame from way back when? I swear they took some shots from the game. Especially the whole stone giants thing.